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17�Թ��� Education, a 17�Թ��� initiative, is improving student and teacher well-being in conflict-affected schools of Cameroon. This initiative is a core component of a larger, five-year activity (2024–2029) led by Nascent Solutions, Inc. (Nascent) and funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Foreign Agricultural Services (FAS), McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program.

17�Թ��� Education’s specialized activities will focus heavily on conflict-affected schools in Cameroon’s Northwest and Southwest regions. By integrating targeted psychosocial care with deep community ownership, the project aims to cultivate a secure environment where children are emotionally and socially ready to learn.

“17�Թ��� approach goes beyond traditional educational support to address the hidden emotional barriers that prevent children from thriving,” says Adam Turney, 17�Թ���/17�Թ��� Education Director. “By mobilizing communities and training local professionals, we are building sustainable support networks directly inside Cameroon’s schools.”

Restoring Well-Being through a Holistic Approach

In the target regions, students and teachers have experienced prolonged exposure to physical and psychological trauma due to more than six years of local conflict. 17�Թ��� Education is implementing a holistic strategy designed to transform schools into safe spaces and meet the psychosocial support needs of communities.

17�Թ��� strategy relies on two distinct but closely linked structures that will work alongside local public health professionals. 17�Թ��� Education will lead the development of specialized technical training materials that will guide the establishment of Psychosocial Support Teams (PSTs) consisting of 96 master teachers and 96 local health workers. These teams will be trained in standardized screening methods to identify symptoms of anxiety, depression, and antisocial behaviors and to provide simple psychosocial interventions designed to foster a healthier, more welcoming school environment, or, when appropriate, make clinical referrals. Complementing these teams, 17�Թ��� Education will provide technical guidance to develop Psychosocial Support Groups (PSGs), which will operate as broader, community-based networks that will incorporate school management committees, parents, and local leaders. These groups will focus on regular community sensitization and integrating wellness activities into standard school routines to foster a child-friendly space in the school environment.

In addition to these structures, 17�Թ��� Education will strengthen local school management committees by connecting them with broader community needs, including parents’ visions for their children’s education and future. This ensures that wellness and psychosocial interventions are not isolated programs, but are instead sustained organically by the communities themselves.

Leveraging Global Expertise and Community Mobilization

17�Թ��� Education was selected for this role based on our long history of successfully managing the education and community engagement components of initiatives around the world. 17�Թ��� approach prioritizes deep community mobilization to ensure long-term local ownership. By connecting school management with community needs, the wellness of students and teachers becomes a collective effort.